Bhagavad Gita Chapter 17, Verse 6

कर्षयन्तः शरीरस्थं भूतग्राममचेतसः | मां चैवान्तःशरीरस्थं तान् विद्ध्यासुरनिश्चयान् ||

karṣayantaḥ śarīra-sthaṁ bhūta-grāmam acetasaḥ māṁ caivāntaḥ-śarīra-sthaṁ tān viddhy āsura-niścayān

Those who, being senseless, torment the elements in the body and Me who dwells within the body—know them to be of demonic determination.

Krishna describes those who practice austerities that harm the body and ignore the Supreme within. 'Karṣayantaḥ śarīra-sthaṁ bhūta-grāmam'—they torment (karṣayantaḥ) the elements (bhūta-grāmam) in the body (śarīra-stham). They're 'acetasaḥ'—senseless, without consciousness or understanding. They also torment 'māṁ caivāntaḥ-śarīra-sthaṁ'—Me who dwells within the body. This means they're not just harming their physical body—they're harming their spiritual essence. Krishna says 'tān viddhy āsura-niścayān'—know them to be of demonic determination. These practices aren't just misguided—they're demonic, driven by ignorance and destruction. This verse connects to the previous one about austerities not prescribed in scriptures. When you practice with force and ego, you harm yourself and ignore the divine within. Understanding this helps you recognize when your practices are harmful rather than beneficial.